Cal Fire suspends burn permits in San Luis Obispo County

–After a wet winter/spring, temperatures in June have quickly dried out the abundant annual grass crop throughout most areas of San Luis Obispo County. The Live Fuel Moisture Database indicates rapidly drying levels in the brush fuels as well.

The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting Cal Fire to suspend all burn permits for outdoor burning within the State Responsibility Area of San Luis Obispo County. This suspension, in accordance with Public Resources Code section 4423.1, takes effect at 8 a.m. on June 28, 2019 and bans all outdoor burning except for authorized Campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property as otherwise permitted.

Chief Jalbert says “Cal Fire is preparing for what could be a very active fire season in SLO County, and we need residents to do their part by maintaining defensible space and being extra cautious during any activity that could spark a wildfire.”

While outdoor burning is no longer allowed, Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of Defensible Space around every home and building on their property.

Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property:

• Clear all dead and or dying vegetation 100 feet from around all structures.
• Landscape with stone and fire resistant/drought tolerant plants
• Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping or hauling it to a biomass energy or green waste facility

The department may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a Cal Fire official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.

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News staff of the A-Town Daily News wrote and edited this article from local contributors and press releases. Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Connect with him on Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog. He can be reached at scott@accesspublishing.com.